Reversing toy vehicle with indicating means



Aug. 24, 1965 R. G. LAHR ETAL 3,201,898

REVERSING TOY VEHICLE WITH INDICATING MEANS Filed Jan. 19, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ROBERT G. LAHR OTTO L. KUEHN y M JM ATTORNEY 1965 R. G. LAHR ETAL 3,201,898

REVERSING TOY VEHICLE WITH INDICATING MEANS Filed Jan. 19, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG?) INVENTOR.

ROBERT G. LAHR OTTO L KUEHN y 21% JM .ATTORNEX.w

Aug. 24, 1965 R. G. LAHR ETAL 3,201,898

REVERSING TOY VEHICLE WITH INDICATING MEANS Filed Jan. 19, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ROBERT G. LAHR BY OTTO L. KUEHN 3/ Kim 44% ATTORNEY United States Patent M 3,201,898 REVERSING TQY VEHICLE WITH INDICATING MEANS Robert G. Lahr, Hartland, Wis. (6600 Capistrano Ave., Canoga Park, Calif), and Otto L. Kueim, Hartland, Wis. (The Rucksack, Vail, olo.)

Filed Jan. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 167,377 2 Claims. (Cl. 46244) This invention relates to toy vehicles, and more particularly relates to means for displaying a signal on a toy vehicle to indicate that the vehicle has contacted another vehicle or a stationary object.

The signaling means of this invention can be used on the toy vehicles described in co-pending application Serial No. 167,376, filed January 19, 1962.

In the above mentioned application there are described remotely controlled electric powered toy vehicles which are operated by players engaging in an organized game. For the purposes of the game, it is desirable that such vehicles be provided with visible or audible signaling means such as electric lights, buzzers, flags, or other indicating means for establishing the occurrence of contact between the vehicle and another object. The signaling means of this invention comprises deflecting members which extend along the sides and ends of a vehicle and which are displaced by impact between the vehicle and another object so as to operate a signal. The signal, which may be a light, flag or the like, is actuated by impact between vehicles, the actuation caused by the impact being dependent upon which portion of the deflecting means is contacted.

It is an object of this invention to provide a signal indicating means for toy vehicles.

It is another object of this invention to provide mechanically actuated signaling device on a toy vehicle. It is another object of this invention to provide on a toy vehicle a signaling means which is responsive to impact by other vehicles and objects.

Other objects will become apparent from the drawings and from the following detailed description in which it is intended to illustrate the applicability of the invention without thereby limiting its scope to less than that of all equivalents which will be apparent to one skilled in the art. In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts and:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle provided with a signaling means of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation in partial section of the vehicle of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line A-A of FIGURE 2 of the vehicle of FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of two vehicles of another embodiment of this invention operating on a game board;

FIGURE 5 is a skeletal perspective view of impact re sponsive means in the vehicle of FIGURE 4 with raised signal.

Referring now to FIGURES l, 2 and 3 there is shown vehicle 11 comprising body 12, mast 13, front bumper 14 and side bumper 15, as shown in FIGURE 1. Vehicle 11 is a wheeled vehicle which may be provided with members shrouding the wheels so that the wheels are not visible, as shown. Vehicle 11 is powered by a suitable motor such as an electric motor which may be energized through conductors in aerial 13 or in a trailing cable or from a trolley or from a member traveling in electrical contact with a conductive floor or any combination of these. Aerial 13 may be connected to 32%,893 Patented Aug. 24, 1965 an overhead transmission line which may be carried by a trolley or boom means which enables vehicle 11 to be operated with unrestricted freedom in a defined area.

In FIGURES 2 and 3 vehicle 11 is shown comprising front bumper 14 and rear bumper 14 integrally connected to member 17 extending longitudinally through the vehicle. Non-driven ground wheels 18 are disposed near the rear of vehicle 11 and driven ground wheel 19 is disposed in the forward portion of the vehicle. Wheel 19 is operably driven by motor 20 by means of suitable gearing. Motor 213 in a preferred embodiment of the invention provides both motive drive power and steering actuation to drive wheel 19. Electric leads 24 and 24' connect motor 29 to aerial 13.

In FIGURE 3 a plan view of vehicle 11 is shown in cross section on plane A-A of FIGURE 2. Integral front and rear bumpers 14 and 14' and side bumpers 15 and 16 are interconnected by means of cams 26 and 26' on lateral members 25 and 25' which are integral with bumpers 14 and 15, respectively. Cams 26 and 26' are disposed to operate in camways 27 and 27 in longitudinal member 17, and are adapted to operably bias member 17 and actuate switch lever 21 to operate indicating lamp 23. Switch lever 21 connects to a toggle switch, sliding switch or other operable switch means as desired and is disposed to extend through opening 22 in member 17. Movement of member 17 forwardly or rearwardly in vehicle 11 causes switch lever 21 to be biased to on-position and off-position, respectively. Similarly, inward movement of either side bumper 15 or 16 biases cam 26 or 26 on lateral members 25 or 25 and causes longitudinal member 17 to be biased forwardly, thereby biasing switch 21 and lighting indicating lamp 23 (FIGURE 2) on vehicle 11. Cams 26 and 26' comprise upstanding pin members which project into camways 27 and 27 in member 17. Camways 27 and 27' are configured substantially as parallelograms so that when either of bumpers'15 or 16 is biased inwardly toward the center of the vehicle 11 one of earns 26 or 26 contacts the forward edge of one of camways 27 or 27 causing longitudinal member 17 to be forwardly biased by a force component exerted on member 17. Member 17 is similarly biased forwardly by rear bumper 14' being contacted and pushed forwardly. Thus, when any of bumpers 14', 15 or 16 are contacted by another vehicle or other objects, it is biased inwardly and causes member 17 to be biased forwardly in vehicle 11 and throw switch lever 21 to a position to light lamp 23. When front bumper 14 is contacted, longitudinal element 17 is rear- Wardly biased within the vehicle 11 and switch lever 21 is thrown to switch off lamp 23. Longitudinally movable member 17 and laterally movable members 25 and 25', are operably biased through guide means 29 and 30. Member 17 in the forward portion of vehicle 11 circumscribes drive wheel 19 and enables member 17 to be disposed at the level of the drive wheel without obstructing operable steering movement of the wheel. It will be apparent that means other than upstanding switch lever 21 may be provided to operably actuate switch means. A sliding contact on member 17 or other conventional switching means may be provided in place of lever 21 as desired.

The signaling means of this invention may be used in the following manner. Two or more vehicles may be operated by two or more players with each player being allowed to operate his vehicle when light 23 on the vehicle is illuminated. Lamp 23 on the vehicle will remain illuminated until front bumper 14 is brought into contact'with an object with suflicient force to bias element 17 rearwardly thereby switching-oft lamp 23. Such impact may be caused by collision of the .vehicle with a stationary object or with another vehicle. During the time thatlarnp 23 on the vehicle is extinguished, game operated flag or the like as maybe desired. 1

V In FIGURE 4 is shown another embodiment of'the' invention wherein two vehicles 31 and 32 areshown operating on a flat surface. Vehicles 31 and 32 arewheeled Q 4 i a signal 35 is lowered in nonvisible position as shown in vehicle 31 of FIGURE When another vehicle collides with the rear of a vehicle 7 of FIGURE 5,-rear bumper element 36""is biased forwardly thereby causing signal 35 to, be lowered and the vehicle becomes operable according to rules of the game. At the same time the impacting vehicle has its front upper tier bumper element 36 biased rearwardly and the signal offlthat vehicle is raised thereby removing it from operation according to rules of'the game. 'To prevent partial actuation of signal 35 it is desirable to provide suflicient mass in signal 35 and length of stem 44 to provide sufficient moment of inertia aboutpivot 45 to prevent either partial actuation or rebound of signal '35 by insufficient impact 'or by excessive impact. To insure positive actua:

tion of the signal spring loading of stem 44may be pro vided in operable manner by means of spring 48 as shown,

and may be powered by a self-contained power source or may be connected to an electrical transmission line by means of masts 33 and 34 as shown: 'Signal135bn car' 32 is raised and is visible to indicate'that the car is removed fromoperation according to rules of 'a game; The signal on car 31 is not showing thus indicating that that car can be operated. The signals on the cars are affected by car operation in the following manner. Each of cars 31 and 32 are provided with two tiers 36 and.

connected to signal 35 in reverse manner so that impact on the upper tier 36 at, for example, thefront of a vehicle will produce. the opposite effect of raising or lowering signal 35 on the vehicle as will impact'directly'there- 37 of bumpers as shown. The twotiers'of'bumpers are below on tier 37. ,The construction of each of tiers 36 and 37 may be similar to the tier comprising bumpers 14, 14,15 and 16 in FIGURES 2- and 3' with signal being actuated instead of lamp 23. 1

In FIGURE 5v is shown in greater detail the operating mechanism of cars 31 and 32 of'FIGURE 4. Tiers 36 and 37 comprise bumper elements 36., 36", 36 and 36" in upper tier 36 and bumper elements 37, 37,

37" and 37""in lower tier 37.} Endmost elements 36' signal the spring being more heavily stressed'in an intermediate position of the signal than when the signal is in either .20

fully raised or fully lowered position. Such means are shownin FIGURE 5 with one end of spring 48 being affixed to the frame (not shown) of the vehicle. The vehicle comprises nondriven ground wheels and a steerable driving wheel which,together withother portions of the vehicle, are not shown for convenience.

It will be apparentthat mechanical or electrical signaling means may be provided on a toy vehicle which is responsive to vehicle contact withanother object. Single for multiple signal actuating means may be providedin a large number of possible arrangementalthe two such aryrangements shown herein being exemplary of the inven:

tion only.

' The actuating means are shown herein as being operably connected by canepmeans, but may, of course, be

'operably connected by other means such as links or such f as gear means which may include racks and pinions.

and. 36 in the upper tier and endrnost elements 37 and- 37'." in the lower tier are, respectively integrally conlnected by movable longitudinal members 38 and39. --Each of members 38 and 39 have triangular camways disposed I therein midway along their length such as camwayj 40 shown in member 38; A -similar camway is provided inmember 39, but is hiddeu frorn view in FIGURE Bumper elements 36" and. 36" in upper tier 36 and bumper elements 37" and 37" injlower tier 37 are connected, respectively, by movable transverse members 41 iand 42. Cam 43 isshown projecting upward from trans- 1 fver'se member 41 into camway 40 of member 38 and coacts therewith.infa mannerfsuch that member 41 upon The signal'means areherein-described as being olf .oron; alternately,the circuit may be arranged to cause the signal tobe oif where described above as on and vice versa. 1 7

.While certain modifications and embodiments of the invention have. been described,it is of course tube under stood'th'at'there are a great number 'of'variations. which claims.

being laterally biased by either of bumperelements 36" or 36" being impactedcauses member1 38 to be biased forwardly (to the left as shown in FIGURES) by cam action.v A similar cam is provided on member 42 which projects into the camway in member-39 and coacts there within a manner similar to'the coaction between cam 43 and camway 40. Impact on rear bumper element 36" or 37" similarly biases member 38 or 39 respectively, forwardly in the vehicle. ment 36' or 37' biases member 38 or 39 rearwardly and resets the side and rear bumper elements of a particular tier.

- Signal 35tisshown in raised position corresponding to the position of the signal on-car 32' of FIGURE 4. Stem 44 which supports signal 35 is pivoted'by pivot 454between members 38 and 39. Projections 46 and 47 are affixed to members 38 and 39 respectively. andextend into slots 46 and 47. respectively disposed longitudinally Impact on front bumper ele-f I will suggest themselves to anyone'familiar with the subject matter thereof and and. it is to be distinctly understood that this invention's'hould not be limited except by such limitations as are clearly imposed in the appended We claim: Y

1. In motive poweredtoy means provided with signal ing means the combination of a switching means disposed within said'toy means for controlling'actuation of signal means, bumper means which is slidably moveable longitudinally with respect to the body of said toy means, for biasing said switchingmeans, wherein said bumper means vcomprises a portion which'isextensible ahead of the body of said toynieans and a portion which is extensible behind the body of such t'oy means, each of said extensible portionsbeing responsive to impact'thereon of a suitable portion of another similar toy meanstocause said bumper means to move and actuate said signal means, further characterized by a bumper means extending aheadof the g body of; said toy means which is firmly afiixedwith respect to the body of the toy means.and..which-prevents said ,moveable bumper means from operating and thereby prevents said signal means from operating except when contacted, byia suitableportion 'of another toy means and in stem 44; Projections46 and47. aredisposed inja:

vertical line when upper tier 36'is disposed rearwardly in" the vehicle with respect tolower tier 3 7 as shown. When the two tiers 36 and 37 extend uniformly from thevehicle wherein the rear of said car is provided with an extending portion,.fixe,d inrelatio'n to' saidv body, extending from the rear of said vbody to prevent operation of the rear moveable-bumper means by any portion of a similar vehicle except a pro-selected suitable po rtion.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein said bumper means comprises portions which are extensible to either side of the body of said my means and wherein said portions are.

5 6 responsive to impact thereby biasing said switching means 2,961,797 11/60 Bonnano 46218 and controlling actuation of said toy means. FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited by the Examiner 492,654 3/54 Italy.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 RICHARD c. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

1,517,589 12/24 Scott 272-35 v 1,856,991 5/32 Franklin 46-244 JAMES W-LOVEEMmme 

1. IN MOTIVE POWERED TOY MEANS PROVIDED WITH SIGNALING MEANS THE COMBINATION OF A SWITCHING MEANS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID TOY MEANS FOR CONTROLLING ACTUATION OF SIGNAL MEANS, BUMPER MEANS WHICH IS SLIDABLY MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE BODY OF SAID TOY MEANS, FOR BIASING SAID SWITCHING MEANS, WHEREIN SAID BUMPER MEANS COMPRISES A PORTION WHICH IS EXTENDIBLE AHEAD OF THE BODY OF SAID TOY MEANS AND A PORTION WHICH IS EXTENSIBLE BEHIND THE BODY OF SUCH TOY MEANS, EACH OF SAID EXTENSIBLE PORTIONS BEING RESPONSIVE TO IMPACT THEREON OF A SUITABLE PORTION OF ANOTHER SIMILAR TOY MEANS TO CAUSE SAID BUMPER MEANS TO MOVE AND ACTUATE SAID SIGNAL MEANS, FURTHER CHARACTERIZED BY A BUMPER MEANS EXTENDING AHEAD OF THE BODY OF SAID TOY MEANS WHICH IS FIRMLY AFFIXED WITH RESPECT TO THE BODY OF THE TOY MEANS AND WHICH PREVENTS SAID MOVEABLE BUMPER MEANS FROM OPERATING AND THEREBY PRE- 